Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-03-16
PRAIRIE FIRES
Damaged Barber County Severely Last sat
rrday.


rrday.
The Loss Placed at more than Twenty Thou
sand Dollars.
Last Saturday, March 18th, was a
sad day for Barber county, for no less
than five destructive prairie fires swept
over different portions of the county
and licked up valuable property to the
amount OF thousands of dollars. And.
as is generally the case with misfor-
tune, those least able to bear the losses
were the principal sufferers.
The first indication that the people
had of the raging fire, was at O'Clock
when heavy cloud of smoke come roll
ling from the northwest. 1t was ac-
companied by strong wind which lift
ed sand and dust high above the ground,
obscuring the sunlight, making timId
people believe that a tornado was COM
ing. Afterwards, it was learned that
this was the smoke from the destruct-
i've fire that originated near the Gar
ten settlement, west of here II miles.
1t was set out Friday evening by
movers, near the mouth of Red creek
and the gentle breeze drove it north
west several miles. Had it been check
ed then the damage hereafter reported
would not have occurred. Satur-
day afternoon at 5 o'clock, tue
wind suddenly turned this fire toward
the south.
The first important damage was
at the John Andrews place, one
mile north of the Lake City road, I3
miles from this city. 1t burned for
Mr.. Andrews his new residence, sub
stantial building. just completed, to-
gether with all of the household goods.
piano, S225 in money which Mr.. An
drews had drawn from the bank the
day before and 500 which his daugh-
ter had earned teaching school; it de-
stIoyed his barn, farming implements
and considerable amount of grain
and hay.
Leaving the comfortable home in ru-
ms, with almost lightning rapidity, the
flames leaped and flew over the dry
prairie south to the Chris Endersby
place and licked up his stables and
feed then east to Henderson Martins
where it found food in corral and a
lot of hay; another tongue reached out
and licked up all the corrals and out
houses, hay-stacks, and feed of j. w.
Lappin. also burning up for him nine
fine hogs, lot of farm implements and
other property.
Directly east of Lappin lived B. P.
Wiley. He lost his house and every
thing in il, even to his family's cloth
ing and the last mouthful of food on
the place his barn and feed, seven
hogs, three good horses, his wagon. har-
ness and in fact everything he had.
Mr.. Wiley is poor man and could i'll
afford such a loss.
South of there James Garten lost two
good horses, 8 hogs, 200 bushels of corn
and 100 bushels of oats.
The fire here reached the river and
stopped further destruction.
About the time this fire was raging
another was doing great damage in the
vicinity of and north of Deerhead. A
man named McHone lost his stable,
corrals, feed, chickens and much other
property.
Near by, several tons of hay, the
property of c. G. Kline, formerly of
tins city, was burned up. Other dam
age was done in that vicinity which has
not yet been reported.
At the same hour from 5 to 6 O'Clock
Saturday afternoon, another fire was
raging i'll the Leemore precinct coun-
try. II miles west of this city. Our
correspondent out there writes:
1T burned Geo. Tedrick's barn, wag-
OH, harness, chickens, hay and millet
stacks. Mrs. Tedrick had narrow es-
cape, her husband arriving from town
just in time to save the home and the
inmates. q. Wheat's barn, hay, fod-
der and shelled corn were consumed.
Mr.. Dodd's barn was burned to the
ground" We also learn that VIM.
Caldwell, south of Mr. Wheat sus-
tanned quite an amount of damage.
&. Ii. Burgess lost his stable and feed.
This FIRE started on West Bear creek.
Another fire started northeast of
Medicine Lodge and combining itself to
a strip from 800 yards to half mile,
passed within one mile of this city and
with the speed of race horse passed to
the southeast. The only damage of
Importance done was for A. B. Purdy
who has lately moved on the McAlister
place, two miles southeast of here. He
was in the stable when he discovered
that it was in flames, the fire having
reached it before he eyer knew that it
was near. He cut loose and drove out 9
head of horses and his jack, but could
not save his new farm wagon, his farm
ing implements, several hundred BUSH
els of feed, lot of hay. six hogs, three
sets of harness, two saddles and other
property, in all about 81 100 worth.
Uncle Billy Morris, east of Mr.. Pur-
dy half mile, barely saved his house
and premises from destruction by hard
work and the assistance of four young
men. The fire came within six feet of
his house. The country around Mr..
Kline's place had been burned a few
days before, or his place, Snodderly's,
John Swank's and DR.. Ayers would
have been licked up. This fire kept
down the east side Of the river to the
Territory.
Over on Mule creek, another fire, at
the same time as the others mentioned
destroyed 500 barn for Jas. Slrana-